Author: Alexandra Sheehan

Romantic Getaways Around the World

Posted on by Alexandra Sheehan

There’s no bonding experience for couples quite like travelling the world and discovering the unfamiliar together.

Maybe you’re planning to celebrate a special occasion or simply want to spend quality time away from home. Where to go? One-of-a-kind romantic getaways can’t be had just anywhere. Consider an evening of stargazing in Jackson Hole, or a look at Lisbon from the seat of a vintage motorcycle. Here are eight dreamy destinations offering epic escapes.


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Soak in Splendour in the Seychelles


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Photography courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Heat things up in your jungle-side villa at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles by climbing into a deep-soaking tub overlooking a wrap-around infinity pool and Petite Anse bay – a haven for romantics, marked by picturesque sunsets and powdery sand. Say the word and the Resort’s Bath Butler will prepare your bath, where you can soak in eucalyptus-scented and ylang ylang–infused water as you sip Champagne and feed one another fresh strawberries. “This is truly an unparalleled setting for couples to enjoy indulgent relaxation together,” says Jean Malubdos, Assistant Spa Manager, “and they may choose from a menu of bath rituals to suit their mood.”


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Swim Under the Stars in Maui


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Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Guests at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea don’t have to go far to find romance. With the Resort’s Serenity Pool After Hours package, reserve the adults-only pool to swim under the stars and enjoy a private dinner together. From dusk until dawn, the entire 2,650-square-foot (246-square-metre) pool is all yours, as well as the six luxury cabanas outfitted with flat-screen HD TVs.


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Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Another sweet exploit at the Resort appeals to food-focused duos: In the Taste of Island Life experience, couples will ride a helicopter to ONO Organic Farms for a private tour and exotic fruit tasting alongside the farm’s long-time owners. Afterwards, swim in nearby waterfalls and explore black sand beaches before heading back for a delicious finale: a multi-course dinner, made from favourite fruits from the ONO farms. “One of the best ways to connect is by experiencing new things together,” says Chef Concierge Sam Wilhelm. “A Taste of Island Life is perfect for couples who love food and adventure. And because this particular experience is set in Hana, where I grew up, it has a special place in my heart. I love sharing this magical town with couples looking for a once-in-a-lifetime culinary adventure.”


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Capture Instagrammable Photos in Lisbon


Lisbon Scooter Adventure

Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Guests at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon can capture the European charm of Portugal’s capital city during a private four-hour photography tour aboard a vintage motorcycle. Take a seat in the sidecar or directly behind your expert driver, and a professional photographer will lead you through winding cobblestone streets to the city’s top sites.

“The Pombaline-style architecture, the terra cotta rooftops and azulejo façades, the glorious Tagus river and the 25th of April suspension bridge are some of Lisbon’s most appealing features,” says Head Concierge Luis Miguel. His advice: Book the tour for early morning to make use of Lisbon’s prettiest light. At any time of day, though, “It’s the most authentic way to discover the city’s many fascinating twists and turns, hotspots and history.”


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Have a Celestial Picnic in Scottsdale


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Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

There are few more charming sights for couples than starry skies. At Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, you can ask the Resort’s professional astronomer to join you – or simply borrow a telescope – to take in an unbelievable view of the Sonoran Desert skies during your own night-time picnic. “Set apart from the city lights in the desert foothills, this is an ideal spot to sip a cocktail and view a spectacular sunset, and then watch as twinkling stars begin to blanket the sky,” says Resort Concierge Susy Alpert. “It’s magical.”


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Yacht Together in Bora Bora


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Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Honeymooners and long-married couples alike are flocking to the overwater bungalow suites with plunge pools at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora – but we’ll wager they won’t spend all their time in their rooms. Among the myriad special experiences for two offered at the Resort: chartering its Andreyale yachts for sailing the surrounding turquoise lagoons in view of Mount Otemanu. “One of the most memorable and romantic experiences couples can share in Bora Bora is a private sunset cruise,” says Etienne Baldeschi, Chef Concierge. “Your captain will anchor for the island’s ideal sunset viewing, and your bespoke menu is served.”Think Champagne and canapés – such as Tahitian Poisson Cru and Moorea shrimp with crispy gyoza. “We can also arrange for a musician, and a photographer or videographer to capture the magic of this special excursion.” As you sail, keep an eye out for spotted eagle rays, sea turtles and blacktip reef sharks in the glass-clear waters below.


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Savour the Sunset in Bali


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Few things are more romantic than a tropical sunset – except, perhaps, a tropical sunset cruise for two. Set sail from Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay and enjoy the view as you sip Champagne and nibble on canapés. Afterwards, return to shore for an intimate four-course dinner in a gazebo overlooking the ocean or unwind in The Longevity Garden in the Resort’s new Healing Village Spa – this private, open-air treatment room is a serene space where couples can pamper each other with body wraps, infrared sun lounges, and steam and sauna rooms.


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Stargaze Mountainside in Jackson Hole


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Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

“There is something magical about travelling to Jackson Hole. The proximity to the mountains and access to wildlife and the vast open skies creates an intimate connection to one’s surroundings,” says Hope Maloney, Chef Concierge. Activities with romantic potential abound at  Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, including elk-drawn sleigh rides in the National Elk Refuge, a pause for sipping bubbly in the Resort’s Champagne bar and guided snowshoe tours of Grand Teton National Park. “But what could be better than enjoying a night of stargazing, huddled under the warmth of blankets, sipping hot cocoa and viewing other galaxies, nebulas and beyond?” Answer: All that with the addition of a discreet astronomer, who will point out the most impressive constellations as you cuddle.


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Escape to Lake Como in Milan


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Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Travel back in time, and in style, behind the driver’s seat of a vintage Italian roadster as you set out from Four Seasons Hotel Milan. Channel Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief as you drive around scenic Lake Como in a vintage 1960s convertible, spotting lakeside villas, ancient villages and cinematic landscapes from the classic car. Bonus: You can pull over at your leisure to take in the view – and perhaps the view is of your happy, relaxed partner.

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Bali at Jimbaran Bay

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The Art of Zarandeado: A Mexican Tradition

Posted on by Alexandra Sheehan

For Chef Tonatiuh Cuevas, it was a simple family dinner on the beach in Nayarit, Mexico, that ignited his desire not only to cook, but to create true culinary experiences. “One of my most vivid memories is when I tasted for the first time the zarandeado fish under a palapa on the sandy beach,” he says. “The smell of the burning wood and the freshness of the sea bass got stuck in my heart.”

At ZANAYA, the newest restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City, Cuevas crafts authentic Mexican Pacific cuisine to share such memories with locals and guests from all over the world.


The menu’s star dish


Zanaya Tecuala Shrimps

Indulge in fresh seafood at ZANAYA with such delicacies as Tecuala Shrimps, which are cooked with butter and Cora chilli.

From ceviche to aguachile, each plate is prepared fresh with a “rod to fork” approach, showcasing quality ingredients from the Nayarit coast. Though all the dishes encapsulate authentic flavours of the region, the restaurant’s signature item is one that every visitor must try: Pescado Zarandeado, the dish that started it all.

“The fish is brought in fresh from San Blas, and it’s prepared over a [wood-fired brick oven], marinating slowly as it absorbs a wonderful wood flavour,” says ZANAYA General Manager José Adames.


Zanaya Zarandeado Fish

ZANAYA’s signature dish, Pescado Zarandeado, is marinated in a dried chile paste or lemon and beer.

A 500-year-old method for grilling fish, zarandeado originated in Nayarit, a Mexican state on the western coast with a reputation for rich, diverse cuisine. For a zarandeado dish, the fish is often split in half from head to tail before it’s grilled over hot coals in a wood-fired oven.

“The Zarandeado-style sea bass is our signature dish. I don’t think there is any other dish that could better represent ZANAYA Restaurant.” – Chef Tonatiuh Cuevas

Cuevas explains how he and others brought this traditional style of cooking to life at ZANAYA: “In order to maintain the authenticity, we built a traditional fire pit area that replicates the wooden oven cooking technique of the zarandeado’s original cooking style,” he says. “The method seems very straightforward – however, there are many details that need to be considered in order for them to work harmoniously.”

Bringing Nayarit heritage to Mexico City

Cuevas has a passion for cooking, and he’s on a mission to create food that embodies Mexican heritage and makes a memorable experience for anyone who tastes it. “That is what it is all about in this kitchen: to create authentic moments where the food is the star,” he says.

We want to deliver a true local experience to our guests that will be taken back with them to their countries of origin, and will translate into a great feeling towards Mexico. – Chef Tonatiuh Cuevas

In the plans for ZANAYA, the emphasis was on bringing tradition, culture and authenticity to the forefront – while taking a special place among the diverse dining options in Mexico City.

“From the places where we buy our products, the decoration, our inspiration, our cooking processes, our cooks and chefs – everything and everybody makes ZANAYA unique,” Cuevas says proudly. “The fact that we bring the ingredients and techniques to the city from an area that guarantees a high-quality product while honouring tradition is paramount to us.”


Zanaya Grilling Fish

At ZANAYA, fish is grilled over hot coals in a traditional wood oven, giving the dish a fresh, smoked flavour, while retaining the recipe’s 500-year-old cooking tradition.

General Manager José Adames wanted to bring that kind of energy and authenticity to the kitchen at the new restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City, and having Cuevas on staff was key.

Cuevas is able to tell the story about his food from its origin and transmit that love to his team and to our clients. – José Adames, General Manager

“[Cuevas] is from the Nayarit region originally,” he says. “He had a passion about food when I spoke to him. He understood the importance of local ingredients and the origin of the dishes he has created today for ZANAYA.”

Asked to describe in a single word what Mexican cuisine means to him, Cuevas demonstrates his vision for marrying food and heritage. “Culture,” he says. “Because it’s the sum of all the factors that define a cuisine: its local products, its geography, its heritage.”

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5 Spicy Margaritas to Try

Posted on by Alexandra Sheehan

Cocktail connoisseurs know you can’t go wrong with a classic: the Manhattan, with its complex sweetness; the old fashioned, with its herbal undertones; the bittersweet Negroni.

Then there’s the margarita: tangy lime and the sweetness of orange liqueur, paired with the distinctive strength of tequila. And while there are several twists on the traditional version, our favourite creations heat up the ice-cold drink with a bit of spice.

Here’s a taste.

Hualalai: Green Flash


Hualalai Green Flash

With a blend of jalapeños and coconut cream, the Green Flash is a spicy yet refreshing cocktail that reflects Four Seasons Resort Hualalai‘s unique scenery and oceanfront locale: In the evening, as the sun hits the horizon, it creates a green flash of light.

With fresh basil and a touch of heat from the jalapeños, you can enjoy a taste of the tropics whether sitting in the sand or reminiscing about a past beach vacation.

 

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For reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqOt0ZxeZjM

Denver: Strawberry Habañero Margarita


Denver Strawberry Habanero Margarita

Strawberries traditionally pair well with spice, especially jalapeño. But mixologists at Four Seasons Hotel Denver selected the habañero pepper to kick it up a notch.

The sweetness of the strawberries balances the heat of the pepper; add a healthy dose of Patrón Silver to deliver just the right flavour.

Langkawi: Assam Java Margarita


Langkawi Assam java Margarita

Mixologists at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi combined traditional flavours of Asian cuisine in the sweet yet spicy Assam Java Margarita. Its distinguishing ingredient? Tamarind, which gives the cocktail a deep red colour and a sweet but tart flavour.

Add a little heat with chilli powder and you’ve crafted a perfectly balanced cocktail, with the right level of spice in each sip.

 

This video is not available.

For reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYzi-ujdDRw

Jimbaran Bay: Chilli Maryrita


Jimbaran Bay Chilli Maryrita

Sambal is a staple in Indonesian cuisine – the spicy chilli sauce is typically served with every meal. Mixologists at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay wanted to create sambal-style heat in a drink while still keeping it light and refreshing.

The result: The Chilli Maryrita, a spicy cocktail balanced with vanilla syrup, passion fruit mix, rosemary and lemon juice – a taste of the tropics with every sip.

Baku: Smoked Blackberry Margarita


Baku: Smoked Blackberry Margarita

For the Smoked Blackberry Margarita, the idea of heat is more literal: Mixologists at Four Seasons Hotel Baku smoke the cocktail over cherry wood after the ingredients are mixed together for an unexpected aroma and taste, with hints of sour, sage, sweetness and smoke.

Paired with refreshing blackberries and citrus, it’s perfect for a hot summer day.

Editor’s note: While some of these cocktails may no longer be listed on the menu, most can be made upon special request.

Spring Cocktails With a Twist

Posted on by Alexandra Sheehan

One of the greatest rewards of travel – or reminiscing about a journey – is the engagement of the senses: New sights, sounds, smells and tastes come together to portray a destination in its fullness.

Wander along the beach in Punta Mita and listen to the waves lapping at the shore as you smell – and taste – the salty breeze blowing through your hair. Take a hike in the crisp mountain air of Jackson Hole and feel delicate snowflakes melt on your face, or the delicious steam of hot cocoa after a day on the slopes.

These are the types of flavours, scents and experiences that inspire Four Seasons mixologists. Add seasonal harvests from local gardens – think flowers, herbs and even mushrooms – and the result is spring cocktails that capture the spirit of global destinations.

Here’s a taste.

Lisbon: LX Purple Bloom


Recipe card for LX Purple Bloom cocktail

Every spring, Lisbon’s first jacaranda blossom serves as a sign that a new season has arrived; next, the city streets are lined with beautiful purple, violet and lavender. Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon celebrates the occasion with a jacaranda-themed cocktail.

In the months where the city flourishes into lavender, it seems only fitting that the cocktails at the Ritz Bar follow suit.

It was the violet view of the city from the terrace at the Ritz Bar that inspired the LX Purple Bloom, a refreshing mix of Portuguese Gin Nao, St-Germain liqueur, Pêra Rocha purée, grapefruit juice and a spritz of rose water.


Scottsdale: Tip of the Cap


Recipe card for Tip of the Cap

April showers bring not only flowers but also mushrooms to the Scottsdale area. In a surprising twist on the change of seasons, chefs at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North delicately infuse this local harvest with citrus and herbs to achieve a fresh, earthy taste.

Fruit and floral notes are predominant in springtime cocktail menus, but the rich umami aspect that mushrooms bring [is often] bypassed.

A variation on the traditional dirty martini, Tip of the Cap replaces olive brine with a porcini “tea” made of local mushrooms, herbs and lemon. That tea is combined with Stoli Elit vodka in a Sercial Madeira–rinsed rocks glass and garnished with a pickled porcini mushroom, a twist of lemon and a sprig of thyme.

Doha: Rose Gold Julab


Recipe card for Rose Gold Julab cocktail

Vast desert landscapes and a bustling, cosmopolitan city greet visitors to Doha. Tradition is not lost here; a thriving coffee house culture makes for unique opportunities to learn more about Qatar and the Middle East. It’s not uncommon to see locals adding rose water to their caffeinated beverages, lemonade or milk.

Rose water has a very distinctive flavour. It’s aromatic, which makes it refreshing in the hot sun.

At Four Seasons Hotel Doha, rose water is an essential ingredient in the Rose Gold Julab. Mixed with a simple syrup and vodka, served over crushed ice with mint leaves and rose petals, it makes a fine treat.

Seychelles: Hibiscus Shower


Recipe card for Hibiscus shower cocktail

Quintessentially tropical hibiscus flowers brighten your stroll around the grounds at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles. They’re a beautiful addition to the scenery – and they’re full of fresh, citrusy flavour.

In our tropical environment, we often have rain showers which make these beautiful flowers bloom.

The Resort’s Kannel Bar makes the most of that citrus flavour – and the abundance of blossoms. The flowers in its Hibiscus Shower cocktails are handpicked from the property grounds. Hibiscus iced tea, Cointreau, local Takamaka coco rum and pineapple juice combine for an unbeatable chilled drink.

Chiang Mai: Siam Honey Breeze


Recipe card for Siam Honey Breeze cocktail

In Northern Thailand, spring comes with plenty of rainfall. It can be seen in the lush green blankets of vegetation on the surrounding mountains, and tasted in the sweetness of Thai honey.

Thai honey is at its most delicate and delicious in April and May.

Thai honey isn’t the only local ingredient at its peak in spring. At Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, mixologists merge camomile-flower tea – brewed using fresh blossoms from the Mon Jam district – with local honey and Thai rum, lemon and ginger ale to create the Siam Honey Breeze, an original cocktail with a fresh perspective.

Editor’s note: While some of these spring cocktails may no longer be listed on the menu, most can be made upon special request.